Some personal data deserves stricter handling than the rest. PT-7 Specific Categories of Personally Identifiable Information asks you to apply defined conditions to those categories. NIST 800-53 binds US federal systems and others by contract. For private companies it is a reference, and it fits cleanly with how privacy laws treat sensitive data.
What it means in practice
The statement is short: apply conditions you define for specific categories of PII. The guidance says conditions may come from law or policy, or from privacy risk assessments that decide a category is especially sensitive. It also says organizations consult their privacy official before applying them.
Two enhancements appear in the record: PT-7.1 Social Security Numbers and PT-7.2 First Amendment Information. The first is useful to many US companies. It asks you to eliminate unnecessary collection and use of Social Security numbers and to explore alternatives as a personal identifier.
Evidence to collect
- A list of the sensitive categories you handle and the rule for each.
- Where each category lives, from your data inventory.
- Technical controls such as field encryption, masking and restricted access.
- Review records for any new collection of a sensitive category.
Common gaps
- Sensitive fields appear in logs, exports and test data.
- Nobody can say which systems hold them.
How to implement it
Define the categories, tag them in the inventory, and apply one standard handling rule per category. Scan logs and test data for leaks.
Quick check
Which categories count as special?
The control leaves the list to you and to the laws that apply. Start with whatever those laws call sensitive, and add anything your own risk assessment flags.
